2016 Ram 2500 Review

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2016 Ram 2500Overview

Everyone knows that full-size pickup trucks are getting bigger, fancier, and more powerful by the year. The 2016 Ram 2500, with bells and whistles like leather upholstery, an optional turbodiesel engine, automatic climate control, infotainment systems, high-end audio components, and dedicated off-road abilities, is a far cry from your dad’s old sturdy but unremarkable Dodge workhorse. The latest Ram 2500 iterations are again designed to handle backwoods bushwhacking, the daily commute, heavy-duty towing chores, and a night at the theater, all with equal ease--though the latter might present some challenging parking maneuvers for these sizable brutes.

As for specifics: the 2016 Ram 2500 will again come in 3 essential trims: the base Tradesman, the up-featured SLT, and the top-shelf Laramie. A number of sub-trim levels are also scheduled to return, including the SLT-themed Longhorn, the SLT-based Big Horn and its Texas-only Lone Star twin, the outback-ready Outdoorsman, and the off-road-savvy Power Wagon, along with a newly-upgraded 2016 Laramie Limited edition. Cab configurations, meanwhile, are expected to remain unchanged, with the 3-passenger, 2-door regular cab, the 6-passenger, 4-door Crew Cab, and the spacious 5-6-passenger, 4-door Mega Cab. Look for all 2500 regular cab versions to come with an 8-foot bed. The Mega Cab variants will only offer the 6.4-foot short bed, and Crew Cab editions are slated to again offer either the 8-foot or the 6.4-foot bed.

All 2016 Ram 2500 trucks will again feature standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) with an available part-time, shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive (4WD). The base Tradesman trim level retains a manually engaged 2-speed transfer case when ordered with 4WD, but all other iterations will continue to sport electronic 4WD gear selection.

A few minor changes for the upcoming year’s 2500 lineup include the previously-mentioned Limited sub-trim, which has a distinctive grille design and tailgate styling, unique wheels, and an all-black interior color scheme. Additionally, all 2016 Ram pickups are scheduled to get a new center console, with the Big Horn, Lone Star, and Limited sub-trim levels featuring a genuine wood sliding console door. And the SLT, Big Horn, Lone Star, and Outdoorsman iterations are slated to boast new 18-inch wheels and LED bed lights that are optional for all other trim levels. Ram will also feature a compressed natural gas (CNG) tweak for the standard V8 powerplant on Crew Cab trims equipped with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD), and on regular cab trims sporting either RWD or available 4WD. Three new exterior color choices--Red Pearl, Luxury Brown, and Pearl White--are expected to debut for 2016.

Look for most 2016 Ram 2500s to return toting the base 5.7-liter V8 powerplant that puts out 383 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque when partnered with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission. As with other full-size pickups on the market, mileage is unavailable for 2500s with the base V8, but they will feature a max towing capacity of 13,870 pounds.

A 6.4-liter V8 engine is again available with most trim levels and standard aboard the Power Wagon. It offers 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque when managed by the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic. The popular and potent 6.7-liter turbodiesel V6 mill will also be available for all trims but the Tradesman, and will come with either the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission. Expect 350 hp and a whopping 800 lb-ft of trailer-towing torque from the turbodiesel V6, with total haul-behind weight maxing out at 17,970 pounds when used with the 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Depending on trim-level selection and the reworked center console, the 2016 Ram 2500 interiors come equipped with either cloth or leather upholstery, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats (the upscale Big Horn/Lone Star twins and their Limited sibling also sport heated second-row seats), full power accessories, cruise control and tilt-wheel steering. Further standard features include manual air conditioning in the Tradesman and automatic climate control in all other trim levels, as well as additional higher trim features such as memory for driver's settings, remote engine start, a remote garage door opener, an improved rear-view camera, and rear parking sensors.

Techno-goodies run the gamut from Bluetooth hands-free calling, Uconnect infotainment and smartphone apps (with either a 5-inch or an 8.4-inch touchscreen display), and a single-CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers and an auxiliary audio input, to a 10-speaker premium Surround Sound system that boasts standard satellite radio and an SD card slot.

Lower 2500 editions for 2016 also include many add-ons that are standard in higher trim levels, while further trim-specific extra-cost items include a load-leveling rear air suspension, a power sunroof, Uconnect-interfaced GPS navigation, and fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer preparation.

For 2016, the Ram 2500 is again slated to tote 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, front head curtain airbags, rear head curtain airbags in the Crew and Mega Cab editions, and a post-collision safety system. The SLT and higher trim and sub-trim levels come with an additional standard security alarm, and the Laramie Longhorn, Laramie Power Wagon, and Laramie Limited trims also throw in standard front fog/driving lights, a remote antitheft alarm, and turn-signal-integrated mirrors. Ram’s optional Park Sense rear parking assistance technology is expected to be available for all upcoming 2500 variants. Neither the government nor the insurance industry conducts safety testing on full-size pickups due to their sheer bulk.

Owners of the current Ram 2500 laud its prodigious towing grunt, surprising ride comfort, and cabin refinement, not to mention the Power Wagon’s impressive off-road capabilities. Ram’s traditional rugged good looks are expected to once again attract a goodly share of tire-kickers to the 2500 lineup this fall, with the 2016 edition battling the likes of Ford’s F-series, GMC’s Sierra trims, and Chevy’s Silverado stable for three-quarter-ton heavy-duty truck supremacy.

Have Laptop. Will Travel. I'm retired and travelling the country in a 34' motor home. I'm really digging meeting people . . and sometimes their cars . . . getting a sense of what makes this nation tick. The plan is to visit all the national parks in the continental US, then cruise to Alaska to visit Denali, and to Hawaii to check out Haleakala and the Hawaii Volcano's national parks.
Anyhow, when I'm not horsing the motor home around the roadways, I'm tooting around in the 2012 Ford Focus that we tow behind, or making runs to Home Depot and various malls with the 2004 F-150 that just won't die.

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2016 Ram 2500 Top Comparisons

Users ranked 2016 Ram 2500 against other cars which they drove/owned. Each ranking was based on 9 categories. Here is the summary of top rankings.